Cricut Joy Xtra: Your Ultimate Machine Guide
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The Cricut Joy Xtra is here, and this machine is the perfect model for a beginner who wants to make all the most popular Cricut projects without sacrificing the affordability and compact nature of your cutting machine – and yes, the Joy Xtra does Print Then Cut!
I got to test this new machine and have all the details you need to know when deciding if this machine is right for you!
This post is sponsored by Cricut. I received the machine and materials for my review of the product. All opinions are my own.
What Is the Cricut Joy Xtra?
The Cricut Joy Xtra is a mid-size die-cutting machine, perfect for beginners who are ready to take personalization to the next level. With the Cricut Joy Xtra, you can create all the most popular Cricut projects, such as professional full-color stickers, labels, t-shirts, cards, gift tags, decorative signs, custom vinyl decals, iron-on transfers, paper crafts, and much more.
How is the Cricut Joy Xtra Different from the Cricut Joy?
The Cricut Joy Xtra has two major differences from the original Joy. First, the Xtra is larger, accommodating an 8.5 x 11-letter size material on a cutting mat. The next major difference with the Cricut Joy Xtra is that it has a built-in sensor to perform the Print Then Cut process, allowing you to create full-color stickers, gift tags, labels, and more!
How Big Can I Make Projects With the Cricut Joy Xtra?
Joy Xtra
- Cuts 8.5 inches wide with Smart Materials (the loaded material is 9.5 inches wide) and 48 inches long.
- On a mat, the Joy Xtra cuts 8.25 inches wide by 11.5 inches long.
In contrast, here are the cutting sizes of the original Joy machine.
Original Joy
- Cuts 4.5 inches wide with Smart Materials (the loaded material is 5.5 inches wide) and up to 48 inches long.
- On a mat, the Joy cuts 4.25 inches wide and 11.5 inches long.
Key Features of the Joy Xtra
- Wider cutting format. On a mat, you can cut 8.5 x 11 letter size materials.
- Smart materials that allow you to cut matless can cut up to 4 feet long and 8.5 inches wide.
- Print Then Cut. The Xtra has a built-in sensor to allow you to print images from your home printer and cut them with precision.
- Cuts 50+ materials
- New card insert sizes. You can now use the R30 – 4.5 in x 6.25, R40 – 4.75 in x 6.6, and S40 – 4.75 in x 4.75 in.
- Foils, writes, and draws (You can use the same pens and foil tool as with the original Joy!)
What Comes with the Cricut Joy Xtra?
The Joy Xtra comes with a fine point blade, a black pen, and some sample smart vinyl material, plus the power cord and a mini weeder. Below is the complete list of everything that comes with your Cricut Joy Xtra.
- Cricut Joy Xtra machine
- Fine-point blade + housing
- Power Adapter & Cord
- Cricut Joy Fine Point Pen (0.4 mm)
- Mini Weeder
- Sample Smart Materials
- Free trial membership to Cricut Access (new subscribers only)
- User Guide & Safety Instructions
- Warranty document
Tools and Accessories
The good news is that if you own the Joy and its accessories, such as the foil tool and pens, you can use these same tools with the Joy Xtra – no need to buy replacements! Knowing this sweetens the idea that you can upgrade to the Xtra and still use your existing tools.
But what if this is your first machine? What tools or accessories will you need?
Here are the tools you may want or need for your Cricut Joy Xtra:
- Cutting mats – available in light grip or standard grip
- Card mat sized just for the Xtra
- Card inserts – whip up custom cards in minutes with the pre-sized card inserts.
- Foil tool – same as the foil tool for the original Joy
- Pens – any pen you use with the original Joy you can use with the Xtra.
What Can the Cricut Joy Xtra Do? What Materials Can You Cut?
The Joy Xtra cuts 50+ materials similar to what the original Joy can do with the benefit of Print Then Cut and a wider format for bigger projects!
The Cricut Joy Xtra excels at materials such as vinyl, iron-on, printable materials, cardstock, and more. And the Joy Xtra comes with all new perfectly sized smart materials so you can create super-long cuts just as before!
Just like the original Joy, the Cricut Joy Xtra can foil, write, and draw in a variety of fonts, styles, and line weights.
Here’s a popular list of the various materials you’ll enjoy cutting with the Joy Xtra:
- Vinyl
- Iron-on vinyl
- Smart vinyl permanent
- Smart vinyl removable
- Smart iron-on
- Prismatic glitter iron-on (NEW!)
- Printable vinyl (NEW!)
- Sticker paper (NEW!)
- Printable waterproof sticker sets (NEW!)
- Printable iron-on for dark fabrics (NEW!)
- Printable iron-on for light fabrics (NEW!)
- Smart writable vinyl (NEW!)
- Smart kraft vinyl (NEW!)
- Card Inserts
- Cardstock
- Beyond this, there are more than 50+ compatible materials! Browse the most popular materials here!
What new accessories do you need for the Cricut Joy Xtra?
As mentioned before, you can use the same foil tool and Cricut Joy pens with the Xtra as you did with the original Joy, so there is no need to buy those again if you already own them.
However, there are a few new materials and accessories you may want to add to make the most use of your Cricut Joy Xtra.
- The new card insert mat was created to fit the Joy Xtra.
- The 8.5×11 standard grip and light grip mats
- Cricut’s sticker paper and printable vinyl
- Card insert packs to whip up greeting cards for all occasions in minutes
- Transfer tape
- Cricut Access for images and designs
- And, of course, you’ll need a basic home inkjet printer to try out that new Print Then Cut feature!
Does Cricut Joy Xtra Work with Design Space?
You can use Design Space with the Joy Xtra on your desktop or use the Design Space app on your mobile devices for a robust set of tools to customize your projects made with the Joy Xtra, such as uploading your own designs, creating text, and more.
Who is the Cricut Joy Xtra for?
If you’re in the market for your first cutting machine, the Cricut Joy Xtra may just be the perfect fit – compact and lightweight at less than 6 lbs, making it a portable cutting machine that can move or fit in various spaces.
Better yet, the Xtra allows you to make all the most popular projects, such as t-shirts, cards, decals, labels, and full-colored stickers.
In other words, the Xtra is a great starter machine, and if you fall in love with using it, then you can explore upgrading to a larger machine, such as a Maker model, down the road.Â
Now what about existing machine owners?
If you own the original Cricut Joy machine, the Xtra may be a fantastic upgrade for you.
You can still keep things compact while giving yourself the freedom to create full-color custom stickers and other Print Then Cut projects, plus more card size variations and a wider format for bigger projects.
And if you’re a Maker or Explore owner, don’t forget to spread the joy about this starter machine with your friends and family who may be in the market for their first cutting machine.
The Joy Xtra can unlock a whole new world of creative possibilities while remaining affordable and compact for small spaces, whether a craft room or another area of your home!
And I really appreciate that the machine was created in white – simple and clean, easy to match any space in my home. At this time, the Xtra is only available in white, but you can totally decorate it!
Cricut Joy Xtra: First Look Video
How Much Does The Cricut Joy Xtra Cost?
Currently, the price of the Cricut Joy Xtra is $199, and it comes with some sample starter materials, a blade, a mini weeder, and a power adapter cord.
Where Can I Buy the Cricut Joy Xtra?
The Cricut Joy Xtra is available online at Cricut.com and at major retailers like Joanns, Michaels, and more.Â
You can shop the new Cricut Joy Xtra machine and different materials here!
Final Thoughts
I’m very happy to see the addition of the Cricut Joy Xtra to the family of Cricut machines. For beginners, this is an ideal starter machine with an easier learning curve that allows you to personalize plenty of projects and handmade gifts with the benefit of Print Then Cut.
What are your thoughts or questions about the newest machine? Tell me in the comments, and let’s discuss!
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